California: The California Interscholastic Federation (CIF), the governing body for high school sports in the state, has announced a temporary rule change for this weekend’s state track and field championships that will allow more girls to compete.
The decision pursues mounting political pressure and controversy surrounding the participation of a transgender student-athlete. In a statement released, CIF said the move would allow additional biological female athletes to take part in the competition. The federation said the change is part of a pilot entry process and applies only to this weekend’s meet.
CIF stated that, “Under this pilot entry process, any biological female student-athlete who would have earned the next qualifying mark for one of their Section’s automatic qualifying entries in the CIF State meet, and did not achieve the CIF State at-large mark in the finals at their Section meet, was extended an opportunity to participate.”
The federation emphasized its dedication to ensuring participation opportunities for all student-athletes, but it did not clarify how many athletes would be added or whether the change applies across all events.
The announcement came hours after President Donald Trump criticised the participation of AB Hernandez, a transgender athlete competing in the girls varsity triple jump, high jump, and long jump at the state finals. On his social media platform Truth Social, Trump condemned Hernandez’s inclusion and threatened to cut federal funding to California unless transgender girls were banned from competing in girls’ sports.
Trump also criticised Maine’s Democratic governor for her stance supporting transgender athletes. The issue has sparked debate across the country, with at least 24 states enacting laws restricting the participation of transgender girls and women in girls’ and women’s sports.
Some of those laws are currently being challenged in court. A recent AP-NORC poll showed that about 70 percent of U.S. adults oppose transgender female athletes competing in girls’ and women’s sports, with support for restrictions strongest among Republicans.
Hernandez, who won her division in both the long jump and triple jump and placed seventh in the high jump earlier this month, has been the subject of national attention and public heckling. Speaking to Capital & Main earlier this month, she remarked that, “I’m still a child, you’re an adult, and for you to act like a child shows how you are as a person.”
Her school district, Jurupa Unified in Southern California, reaffirmed its commitment to state law, which allows transgender students to participate in sports consistent with their gender identity.
While CIF’s rule change may be a first in high school sports nationally to expand competition during transgender participation, it is currently limited to this single meet. California Governor Gavin Newsom did not comment directly on the policy but appeared supportive.
Republican leaders were quick to credit Trump for the CIF’s move. Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher commented that, “CIF stepped up, but only after President Trump and Republicans brought the heat. Newsom ran his mouth on a podcast and disappeared. Talking isn’t leading. Acting is.” The issue is expected to remain a flashpoint in California and nationally as debates over transgender rights and youth sports continue.
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